Eyelid tumors are often considered harmless because they are difficult to identify and are generally asymptomatic. However, if not treated as early as possible, eyelid tumors can get bigger or have the potential to become cancer.
An eyelid tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in the eyelid. These tumor cells generally appear in the tissue or skin surface of the eyelids.
Under normal conditions, the body will control the formation of new cells to replace cells that have been damaged or died. However, the nature of these cells can sometimes change and can grow uncontrollably. Over time, this condition can lead to the formation of tumors.
Generally, eyelid tumors appear in the epidermis or the outermost layer of the skin on the eyelids. This type of tumor can be asymptomatic in its early stages, but over time it can cause symptoms, such as changes in the color of the eyelid skin, the appearance of lumps, to eyelash loss.
Causes of the Growth of Eyelid Tumors
Until now, the cause of eyelid tumors is still not known with certainty. However, there are several factors that are known to increase the risk of developing eyelid tumors, including:
- The frequency of exposure to UV radiation is quite high
- Bright skin tone or low levels of melanin in the skin
- Age over 50 years old
- History of skin cancer
In addition, tumors or cancer can be hereditary. A person is more at risk of developing tumors in the eyelids if he has family members who also suffer from tumors or cancer in the eyelids.
Types of Eyelid Tumors
According to its nature, eyelid tumors are divided into two types, namely:
Benign eyelid tumor
Benign eyelid tumors are not cancerous and generally do not spread to other body tissues. The most common types of benign eyelid tumors are:
- Nevus is also known as a mole. This benign tumor appears in the form of black or brown spots on the skin on the eyelids. These tumors are harmless and do not cause any symptoms.
- Papilloma is a benign tumor on the eyelid that looks like a lump with a smooth surface and is the same color as the skin or slightly reddish. These tumors are generally caused by infection with the HPV virus.
Malignant eyelid tumor
Malignant tumors in the eyelids are also malignant or cancerous. If not treated immediately, malignant tumors or cancer in the eyelids can spread to other parts of the body (metastasize).
The following are some types of malignant tumors in the eyelids:
1. Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of malignant eyelid tumor. This type of tumor is more common in white people and people over 50 years old. These tumors can appear along the eyelids and if left unchecked, can spread to the back of the eye.
On the skin or eyelids, basal cell carcinoma usually appears as lumps that are the same color as the skin or sometimes appear reddish and slightly darker. The tumor lump is not painful, but can be accompanied by bleeding and injury.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is an aggressive type of tumor that attacks the outer layer of the skin and can sometimes appear on injured skin. These tumors are more common in people who are frequently exposed to the sun.
Squamous cell carcinoma usually appears as a lump or thickening that causes the skin to scaly and bleed easily. If it appears on the eyelids, these malignant tumor cells can spread into the eyeball and cause other complaints, such as visual disturbances.
This type of tumor on the eyelids can sometimes mimic other skin problems, such as warts or ulcers on the eyelids. Therefore, a thorough examination from a doctor is needed to diagnose this tumor.
3. Sebaceous gland carcinoma
This tumor is classified as rare, but potentially fatal because it is often mistaken for a stye or chronic inflammation of the eye. The location of the formation of these tumors is the sebaceous glands (sebaceous glands), which are glands that produce oil in the skin.
Symptoms that appear in the form of small red or yellow bumps on the eyelids. These lumps can enlarge and cause eye irritation. If left untreated, these tumors can spread to other parts of the body, including the lungs, liver, brain, and bones.
4. Melanoma of the eyelids
Eyelid melanoma is a dangerous type of tumor because it can spread throughout the body if not treated early. Melanoma is a type of malignant tumor formed from melanocyte cells, which are cells that produce natural pigments or dyes in hair, skin, and eyes.
Eyelid melanoma is characterized by the presence of pigmented lumps on the eyelids and can grow rapidly. In addition, the symptoms that often occur are darkening of the skin color, the appearance of new moles, until the mole looks wider or grows quickly.
Eyelid Tumor Treatment
Eyelid tumors are a condition that requires immediate medical attention. To diagnose the type and severity of tumors in the eyelids, the doctor may perform an eye exam and other investigations, such as:
- Biopsy
- tumor marker
- Radiological examination, such as CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound
If the results of the examination show that your eye tumor is benign, your doctor may only suggest treatment in the form of regular monitoring to make sure the tumor does not get bigger or turn malignant. However, benign tumors can also be treated with surgery.
Meanwhile, to treat tumors in the eyelids that are malignant, doctors can perform treatments in the form of:
Operation
Surgery or surgery aims to remove tumor tissue in the eyelids. This surgery can be done conventionally or with certain surgical techniques, such as frozen surgery (cryotherapy), electrosurgery, and laser surgery.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy uses high-power X-ray radiation to kill cancer cells. In addition, this therapy also aims to inhibit the growth of tumor or cancer cells.
Chemotherapy
This treatment method uses chemotherapy drugs to kill tumor or cancer cells. Doctors will usually combine radiation therapy and surgery with chemotherapy to treat malignant tumors in the eyelids.
The appearance of eyelid tumors, both benign and malignant, can generally be prevented in the following ways:
- Avoid sun exposure for a long time
- Wear sunglasses and sunscreen when doing outdoor activities
- Stay away from cigarettes or cigarette smoke and alcoholic beverages
- Check health conditioncheck-up) regularly to the eye doctor
If you experience symptoms of an eyelid tumor, such as lumps, sores or spots, and changes in skin color on the eyelids, you should immediately consult a doctor for these conditions. This is important so that tumors in the eyelids can be detected early and treated as soon as possible.